Desodification from calcareous saline sodic soil through phytoremediation with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and gypsum.

The reclamation of saline sodic soils requires sodium removal and the phytoremediation is one of the proven low-cost, low-risk technologies for reclaiming such soils. However, the role of Phragmites australis in reclaiming saline sodic soils has not been evaluated extensively. The comparative reclaiming role of P. australis and gypsum was evaluated in a column experiment on a sandy clay saline sodic soil with ECe 74.7 dS m-1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 63.2, Na+ 361 g kg-1, and pH 8.46. The gypsum at 100% soil requirement, planting common reed (P. australis) alone, P. australis + gypsum at 50% soil gypsum requirements, and leaching (control without plant and gypsum) were four treatments applied. After 11 weeks of incubation, the results showed that all treatments including the control significantly reduced pH, EC, exchangeable Na+, and SAR from the initial values, the control being with least results. The gypsum and P. australis + gypsum were highly effective in salinity (ECe) reduction, while sodicity (SAR) and Na+ reductions were significantly higher in P. australis + gypsum treatment. The reclamation efficiency in terms of Na+ (83.4%) and SAR (86.8%) reduction was the highest in P. australis + gypsum. It is concluded that phytoremediation is an effective tool to reclaim saline sodic soil.

Serine protease Per a 10 from Periplaneta americana bias dendritic cells towards type 2 by upregulating CD86 and low IL-12 secretions.

BACKGROUND: Serine protease activity of Per a 10 from Periplaneta americana induces airway inflammation and systemic Th2 response towards self and bystander allergen. OBJECTIVE: In the present study the effect of proteolytic activity of Per a 10 allergen on dendritic cells (DCs) polarization and consequent T cell response was investigated. METHODS: Non-atopic subjects with no family history of asthma/allergy were recruited for the study. CD14(+) peripheral blood monocytes were purified, differentiated to immature DCs and stimulated with proteolytically active/inactivated native or recombinant Per a 10. DCs phenotype was analysed with flow cytometry and antigen presenting function assessed by co-culturing with autologous CD4(+) T cells. Cytokine levels were determined using ELISA. RESULTS: Immature DCs differentiated into mature CD14(-)CD83(+)HLA-DR(+) cells after incubating with proteolytically active/inactivated or recombinant Per a 10. Proteolytically active Per a 10 induced significant CD86 up-regulation on DCs compared to inactivated or recombinant Per a 10 lacking enzymatic activity. Proteolytic activity of Per a 10 showed dose-dependent effect on expression of CD80, CD86, CD83, CD1a and HLA-DR. However, no significant differences were observed phenotypically in active or inactive forms except for CD86. Active Per a 10 stimulated DCs secreted significantly low IL-12 (P < 0.01) and high IL-6, compared to inactive forms of Per a 10. Naive CD4(+) T cells primed with active Per a 10 pulsed DCs also secreted significantly less IL-12 (P < 0.01) and high IL-4, IL-5 plus IL-6 (P < 0.01); in contrast to DCs pulsed with inactivated or recombinant Per a 10. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Proteolytic activity of Per a 10 modulates DCs towards type 2 by CD86 up-regulation, high IL-6 and reduced IL-12 secretions. Proteolytically inactive Per a 10 can be further explored for immunotherapy.

Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase in subcutaneous fat necrosis.

BACKGROUND: The most serious complication of subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN), a rare condition of the newborn characterized by indurated purple nodules, is hypercalcaemia. However, the mechanism for this hypercalcaemia remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the hypercalcaemia associated with SCFN involves expression of the vitamin D-activating enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1alpha-hydroxylase (1alpha-hydroxylase) in affected tissue. METHODS: Skin biopsies from two male patients with SCFN and hypercalcaemia were taken. The histological specimens were assessed using a polyclonal antibody against 1alpha-hydroxylase. RESULTS: Histology in both cases showed strong expression of 1alpha-hydroxylase protein (brown staining) within the inflammatory infiltrate associated with SCFN. This was consistent with similar experiments in other granulomatous conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercalcaemia in SCFN appears to be due to abundant levels of 1alpha-hydroxylase in immune infiltrates associated with tissue lesions. This is consistent with previous observations of extrarenal 1alpha-hydroxylase in skin from other granulomatous conditions such as sarcoidosis and slack skin disease.

Low dose gamma-irradiation differentially modulates antioxidant defense in liver and lungs of Balb/c mice.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of low-dose (<50 cGy) whole body ?-irradiation on the antioxidant defense system in the liver and the lungs of mice at various post-irradiation intervals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Balb/c mice, 5 - 6 weeks of age, were divided into irradiated and non-irradiated groups. Whole body irradiation was done with gamma-rays from a (60)Co source at doses of 10, 25 and 50 cGy (48.78 cGy/min). Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were measured in the liver and the lungs at 4, 12 and 24 h after irradiation. RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation increased by 1.38 and 2.0 fold in lung and liver respectively at 12 h after exposure to 25 cGy. Whole body exposure to 25 and 50 cGy significantly (p < 0.05) increased the hepatic reduced glutathione at 4 h. Reduced glutathione continued to rise until 12 h and returned to the basal level at 24 h, whereas in the lungs it remained elevated until 24 h at 10 and 25 cGy. Antioxidant enzymes activities for superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase increased by 1.22, 1.13, 1.22 and 1.11 fold respectively (p < 0.05) in the liver at 4 h after exposure to 50 cGy and remained elevated at almost the same level up to 12 h after exposure. Surprisingly these antioxidant defense enzymes remained unaltered in the lung at the above radiation doses. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose whole body gamma-irradiation differentially modulates the antioxidant defense system in the liver and lungs of mice. The induction of endogenous glutathione, immediately after exposure to low-dose -irradiation, may be beneficial in protecting the cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced oxidative stress.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening reaction of neuroleptic medication. The estimated incidence rate of neuroleptic malignant syndrome is between 1% and 1.5% of patients treated with neuroleptics. The reported mortality rate varies from 11% to 38%. Risk factors include younger males (80% less than 40 years) and physical disability. Although 80% of neuroleptic malignant syndrome cases develop within the first 2 weeks of treatment, the syndrome can develop anytime during the therapy period. The clinical picture and laboratory findings are not always unique. Less than 50% of cases manifest with classical symptoms. Deaths usually result from cardiovascular collapse. Renal failure, pulmonary emboli, aspiration pneumonia, and respiratory failure are also reported. Familiarity with the syndrome, baseline laboratory values including creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase, and complete blood cell count with a differential count, and a high index of suspicion are of the utmost importance in making the diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome. A judicial choice of neuroleptic medication and careful observation of patients may reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Clinical trial of ampicillin v. trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole in the treatment of Shigella dysentery.

Following a nationwide outbreak of Shigella dysentery type 1 and the recognition of Shigella isolates resistant to ampicillin, the drug of choice, we conducted a clinical trial to compare the efficacy of ampicillin v. trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole for the treatment of Shigella dysentery. Patients with symptoms of dysentery and no other complicating illness were randomized into one of two treatment groups. Patients in the two groups were comparable at the time of hospital admission with regard to age, sex, presenting complaints and Shigella strains. They responded well with both regimens and there was no significant difference in the mean time until stool became culture negative (1.4 days), temperatures returned to normal (2.7 days) and faecal leucocytes disappeared (3.0 days); abdominal pain, tenesmus and stool blood and mucus improved significantly more rapidly with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole than with ampicillin. There was no evidence of toxicity with either drug. While both drugs are effective for the treatment of Shigella dysentery, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was considered to be superior.